Lantana plant named ‘Balandcit’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Lantana  plant named ‘Balandcit’, characterized by its orange and yellow-colored inflorescences, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded, and spreading growth habit.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Lantana camara.

Variety denomination: ‘Balandcit’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Lantanaplant botanically known as Lantana camara and hereinafter referred to bythe cultivar name ‘Balandcit’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in ArroyoGrande, Calif. during June 2002. The objective of the breeding programwas the development of Lantana cultivars with continuous flowering, darkgreen-colored foliage, and a well-branched, vigorous growth habit.

The new Lantana cultivar was the result of a self-pollination of theproprietary Lantana camara breeding selection designated BFP 592, notpatented, characterized by its dark gold-colored inflorescences, darkgreen-colored foliage, and spreading growth habit. The new cultivar wasdiscovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progenyof the above stated self-pollination during December 2003 in acontrolled environment at Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceDecember 2003 at Arroyo Grande, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. hasdemonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all ofthe characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retainedthrough successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Balandcit’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Lantana plant:

-   -   1. Orange and yellow-colored inflorescences;    -   2. Dark green-colored foliage; and    -   3. Moderately vigorous, mounded, and spreading growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the parent primarily ininflorescence color and growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Lantana cultivars known to theinventor, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is LandmarkFlame Improved ‘Balandimfla’, U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No.11/015,489, now abandoned. However, in side by side comparisons, plantsof the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balandimfla’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar are taller than plants of        ‘Balandimfla’;    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar are wider than plants of        ‘Balandimfla’; and    -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color different from        plants of ‘Balandimfla’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balandcit’. Theplants were grown in 4.5 inch pots for 8 weeks in a greenhouse at WestChicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch two weeks after transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Balandcit’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of‘Balandcit’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined on Jul. 17, 2007 between 9:00a.m. and 11:00 a.m. under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants producedfrom cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in a glass-coveredgreenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercialpractice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill. in 4.5 inch potsfor 8 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were given onepinch two weeks after transplant. Greenhouse temperatures weremaintained at approximately 70° F. to 77° F. (21° C. to 25° C.) duringthe day and approximately 65° F. to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.) during thenight. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandleswere maintained during the day.

-   Botanical classification: Lantana camara cultivar ‘Balandcit’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Parent.—Proprietary Lantana camara breeding selection            designated BFP 592, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7 to 11 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 24 to 28            days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 7 to 8 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a 15 cm pot.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,            mounded-spreading.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 22.3 cm. Width: Approximately 31.6 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances            branching. Quantity of lateral branches per plant:            Approximately 3.        -   Branch.—Shape: Square in cross section. Strength: Strong,            becomes woody with age. Length: Approximately 18.9 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Length of central internode:            Approximately 4.7 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a            mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color:            Colorless, transparent. Color of young stem: 144A. Color of            mature stem: 199B.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per lateral branch:            Approximately 10. Fragrance: Strong, spicy. Form: Simple.            Arrangement: Opposite.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular to obtuse angle to stem.            Shape: Ovate. Margin: Serrate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse.            Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf:            Approximately 7.6 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately            4.5 cm. Texture of upper surface: Scabrous. Texture of lower            surface: Scabrous with a mixture of glandular pubescence            along venation. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color            of upper surface of young foliage: 137A with venation of            137B. Color of lower surface of young foliage: 137C with            venation of 138C. Color of upper surface of mature foliage:            Closest to 139A with venation of 137B. Color of lower            surface of mature foliage: 137B with venation of 138C.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Scabrous with a mixture of            glandular pubescence. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.            Color: 144A.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balandcit’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in            greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the            plant.—Approximately 10 to 12 days from first color of outer            buds to dropping of last flower.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Corymb. Quantity per plant:            Approximately 9. Fragrance: Strong, spicy. Aspect: Facing            upward or outward. Height: Approximately 2.2 cm. Width:            Approximately 3.7 cm. Quantity of fully open flowers per            inflorescence: Approximately 34.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Shape: Square in cross section.            Aspect: Acute angle to stem. Length: Approximately 2.9 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Scabrous and            glandular pubescent. Gland color: 144D, transparent. Color:            144A.-   Flower description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Salverform.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 1 to 2 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower. Buds open in            progression from the margin to the center of the            inflorescence. Quantity of unopened inflorescences per            plant: Approximately 1.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Elongated, rectangular at            apex. Length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Diameter: Approximately            3.0 mm. Color: 12A with an overlay of 46B.        -   Corolla.—Depth: Approximately 1.4 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 1.0 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity: 4, non-imbricate, non-symmetrical. Petals            are fused at base forming a corolla tube. Shape: Obovate.            Appearance: Dull. Aspect: Flat. Margin: Entire, ruffled.            Apex: Obtuse. Length of upper petal from throat:            Approximately 5.0 mm. Width of upper petal: Approximately            6.0 mm. Length of lateral petals from throat: Approximately            3.0 mm. Width of lateral petals: Approximately 4.0 mm.            Length of lower petal from throat: Approximately 4.0 mm.            Width of lower petal: Approximately 7.0 mm. Texture of upper            surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Densely            pubescent with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular            hairs. Gland color: Mixture of colorless and 46B. Color of            upper surface when first open: 12A. Color of lower surface            when first open: 12C with a faint overlay of 46B. Color of            upper surface when fully open: 30A with an overlay of 46B in            center and 22A at margins. Color of lower surface when fully            open: 22C with a faint overlay of 46B.        -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Diameter at tube            opening: Approximately 1.0 mm. Diameter at base:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Densely            pubescent. Texture of outer surface: Glabrous at base,            gradually becoming densely pubescent at tube opening with a            mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Pubescence is a            mixture of colorless and 46B. Color of inner surface: 145D.            Color of outer surface: 145C at base, transitioning to 145D            at tube opening.        -   Calyx.—Shape: Tubular with two broadly acute tips. Length:            Approximately 3.0 mm. Diameter at tip: Approximately 2.0 mm.            Diameter at base: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of inner            surface: Glabrous. Texture of outer surface: Densely            pubescent with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular            hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of inner            and outer surfaces: 144D.        -   Bracts.—Quantity per flower: 1 per flower. Shape:            Lanceolate. Length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Width:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of upper surface: Sparsely            pubescent with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular            hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Texture of lower            surface: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and            nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.            Color of upper and lower surfaces: 144B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 4 per            flower, adnate to corolla tube. Stamen length: Approximately            2.0 mm. Anther shape: Ovoid, bilobed. Anther length: Less            then 1 mm. Anther color: 12A. Pollen amount: Sparse. Pollen            color: 12C. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil            length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Stigma shape: Funnel. Stigma            length: Less than 1 mm. Stigma color: N144D, translucent.            Style length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Style color: 145D. Ovary            diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Ovary color: N144C.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Lantana has not been observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lantana plant named ‘Balandcit’,substantially as herein shown and described.